Republicans’ closing argument: Be afraid, be very afraid

Immigrants are coming on your youngsters and lake homes. Socialists are coming on your Medicare (huh?). Black soccer gamers are coming on your flag. And now the Democrats are coming on your 401(okay).

Republicans’ closing argument: Be afraid, be very afraid.

The GOP has had unified management of presidency for practically two years now. But, someway, Republicans’ promised return to morning in America, that finish of “American carnage,” nonetheless hasn’t arrived, in keeping with each their very own standard-bearer and their terrifying marketing campaign advertisements.

It’s humorous, in a approach. Unemployment is traditionally low. Shopper confidence is buoyant. There really is a compelling, optimistic story to inform in regards to the state of the nation — or at the least, the state of the financial system — as we speak. Whether or not President Trump can legitimately declare credit score for latest financial traits is a nonissue; we all know he has no drawback taking credit score for issues he inherited, together with his private wealth. So on the very least, he could possibly be emphasizing these financial milestones.

Typically Republican leaders and strategists complain that the celebration, and significantly the president, have finished so little financial cheerleading. And White Home advisers overtly do attempt to nudge Trump towards highlighting the robust financial system.

On Wednesday, as an example, Nationwide Financial Council Director Larry Kudlow “interviewed” his boss at a White Home occasion. Kudlow opened his softball questions with: “So Mr. President, no one desires to speak in regards to the financial system anymore, so let’s discuss in regards to the financial system.”

Trump partly obliged, providing the anticipated lies and hyperbole. He claimed his tax lower is the “largest that we’ve ever finished” (it’s not) and that the inventory market has risen “near 50 %” because the final election (it hasn’t). However earlier than he may even formulate these fibs, he couldn’t assist however first provide a few of his customary fearmongering — about that scary caravan of penniless asylum seekers, who’re nonetheless some 1,000 miles away from the U.S. border.

Even on events when he has stayed on process in touting financial and monetary market metrics, he nonetheless sometimes frames the message not precisely as an achievement however as a warning.

“In order for you your Shares to go down, I strongly recommend voting Democrat,” he tweeted Tuesday. He mentioned this after the inventory market had simply suffered a rout apparently triggered not by midterm information however by stories of a coming escalation in his commerce wars.

Possibly this tweet was merely about establishing a fall man for when — not if — the enterprise cycle turns. (He has been organising the Federal Reserve as a doable scapegoat, too.) However it’s additionally fairly thematically just like the political message he affords on different, non-financial points: Keep fearful.

Or put one other approach: Good little 401(okay) you’ve received there. Be a disgrace if one thing occurred to it.

No matter what Kudlow, Home Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., or others are advising, Trump has good purpose to pivot away from plugging his supposed financial successes, and as an alternative return to pumping up public nervousness.

First is that inflation-adjusted wage progress continues to be comparatively tepid. Singing the praises of the financial system at the same time as paychecks stagnate could backfire, at the least if voters suppose the celebration is ignoring their frustration. Plus, in fact the primary coverage achievement Republicans must name-check when hyping their financial document could be their deficit-ballooning, plutocratic tax lower, which stays unpopular.

However extra considerably, Trump has discovered that worry is way more politically helpful, and motivating, than festivity, particularly amongst his base.

When Trump accepted his celebration’s presidential nomination in 2016, he declared that the system was damaged, and darkly promised that he alone may repair it. If as we speak he declares that he has already fastened all the pieces, then what motive do his voters should go to the polls?

Coverage wonks and pundits typically level out that Trump doesn’t seem terribly focused on accurately figuring out coverage issues. He’s even much less focused on really fixing them. However his disinterest in notching coverage achievements — by passing immigration reform, say, or repealing Obamacare, or persuading China to truly do no matter it’s he’s attempting to get them to do — may very well assist slightly than harm him.

He wants the barbarians to be on the gates; the “deep state” undermining his agenda; the “enemy of the individuals” victimizing him and his Forgotten Males. If he ever definitively declares victory over the forces he has informed his loyal foot troopers to worry, the battle is over, and so they’ll lay down their arms.

Trump’s core voters are political doomsday preppers; he wants them to maintain prepping.

Catherine Rampell’s e mail handle is crampell@washpost.com. Comply with her on Twitter, @crampell.